The first good day of the year for Gos-ing, despite a very cold north-westerly, found me sharing roadside space with one other birder. A bit of banter kept us on site (in the absence of any bird spp) until I picked up a distant displaying Gos which stayed in view for a fair while and also encouraged a brief appearance from a second one. At the same time a third much closer bird gave great scope views before slipping away.
Shortly after, now on my own, it reappeared and rode an air current directly up in to the pure blue sky becoming invisible to the naked eye, before pulling its wings in and gliding off to the east at speed; a Hawfinch flashed by. And then back to the car to warm up.
At Blashford pretty much nothing on the south side with neither Bittern, Kingfisher, YBW, Brambling etc, just a single hunched up Great White.
On the north side it was goodbye to Tern hide, today being the last chance to scope the gull roost before tomorrow's demolition. Hopefully any white-wingers will rock up on the coast to avoid a cold vigil on the mound!! Two 1w Casps were present with one departing to the east early on while a second was found by PW et al in the main roost, along with three each of Yellow-legged and Med Gulls, all adults. Just Marsh Harrier, 14 Goosanders and a single Water Pipit with no sign of the Black-necked Grebe.
Ironically, having received four free replacement eyecup units from Swarovski soon after the new year, Bob was able to re-unite me with December's lost rubber portion - presumably some kind soul handed it in or it was picked up in hide sweeping.
